Given Canada's performances so far -- especially a comprehensive 3-0 cruise over Guatemala in the quarterfinal -- the U.S. is in no position to look past its big neighbor to the North in anticipation of a final showdown against Mexico, says Grahame L. Jones of the L.A. Times. And it's a good thing Coach Bob Bradley and his troops understand that.

"They've played well," the U.S. coach said of the Canadians on Wednesday. "Their attacking players are all very dangerous," particularly the Houston Dyanmo's Dwayne De Rosario and Europe-based Atiba Hutchinson and Julian De Guzman. Indeed, one thing the Canadians have looked so far is fit. They also match up with the U.S. in size. "They look pretty athletic," added U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra. "If they come out and attack us, I think we'll be all right, but we need to put our stamp on the game early and try to play it how we want to play it."

No doubt the Americans will come out looking to take an early, but they won't sit back this time if they do. Complacency killed the Yanks in the final quarter of an hour against Panama. "It was probably good for us because we kind of breezed through the first round," striker Landon Donovan said. "So if we get ahead against Canada, we're going to be tuned in for the full 90 minutes, I hope."